Fernando Alonso kept alive his world championship challenge with a near-flawless drive for an emotional and exciting victory in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix,his maiden race on home soil for Ferrari. The 29-year-old Spaniard had said he need a victory to maintain his bid for a third world title in his first season with the Italian 'scarlet scuderia'. And he delivered a stirring performance to the tifosi in the grandstands of the old Autodromo Nazionale in a race that was nothing short of disastrous for championship leader Lewis Hamilton who retired on the opening lap. Alonso lost a place after starting from his 19th pole position,but fought back and aided by a dazzling Ferrari pit-stop was able to hold on to win ahead of second-placed defending champion Jenson Button of McLaren and Felipe Massa,in the second Ferrari. It was his third win this season and the 24th victory of his career and,unlike his triumph in Germany in July,when Massa was asked to give way,was this time produced without the aid of any team orders at Ferrari. Alonso now has 166 points and,in third place,is back within reach of the championship leaders. Australian Mark Webber has taken over on top for Red Bull after finishing sixth. He is now on 187 points,five clear of luckless and pointless Hamilton. "A fantastic weekend - pit stops stupendi," Alonso was told on his triumphant slow-down lap. "Fantastic,a fantastic weekend," responded the Spaniard. "One of the great wins of my career,so emotional and so special for me and for this team. For me it is there with my Spanish Grand Prix of 2006. "Now we must enjoy it and share with the team at Maranello before we go back to work - we need to find consistency now in the last five races." Button said: "We had a very quick car today but they had a slight edge and I think we lost out in making our pit stop a lap early. It was so tough. "I had Fernando in my mirrors for so long and they - Ferrari - clearly had a better straight line speed,but I defended well. It is a disappointment for me not to win,but it is a good result for me in the title race."
